Where Magic Flows
M. Lauren
Lay the Answers: Part One
A knock at the door had Honeymaren rolling onto the floor with a yelp. Her shoulder bruised against the hardhood and she looked up mournfully at the bed. How had she gotten down here?
"Is everything alright in there, miss?"
It was Gerda from the hall. She sounded apologetic, and Honeymaren blushed when she heard her voice. She was hoping to adapt to life in Arendelle better for Elsa's sake. She didn't want to do anything that might embarrass her.
"Um, yeah- I mean yes, thank you! Everything's fine!" She returned to her feet, running a hand through her tangles of brown hair.
"I've come to let you know dinner will be served at seven. I hope that gives you enough time to prepare."
Prepare? Honeymaren frowned, pulling her brow low in contemplation.
She shook her head to clear the thoughts. Blinking, her eyes turned to Elsa who was surprisingly still asleep; dead asleep, and taking over most of where Honeymaren had laid minutes before.
"I-uh, thank you!" she quickly called to Gerda. "I'll be there…"
Her feet were heard moving away from the door. Honeymaren's heart rate returned to normal as she soothed a hand over her chest. Feeling the ache in her shoulder, she looked down at the spot. It was red and would certainly be quite an attractive bruise within a few days.
Ignoring it, her attention pulled back to Elsa. She looked peaceful as she slept, and Honeymaren hated the idea of waking her. She was curled onto her side with her mouth slightly parted. Her breathing was shallow. Her expression was calm. In that moment, Honeymaren wanted nothing more than to fall back to sleep beside her.
She knew that couldn't happen, though. Arendelle's affairs took priority, but she would happily keep the visual stored amongst the folds of her brain until they could be this way together again.
With a sigh, she clambered back onto the bed and kneeled before Elsa. Her fingers combed through blonde hair as if savouring each strand. Her nose scrunched, but Elsa wouldn't rouse. This was completely unlike the light-sleeping woman Honeymaren had come to know. It only further proved how exhausted she'd assumed Elsa must be.
Feeling daring, she ran her thumb along Elsa's bottom lip. Her blonde brows pinched, and so, Honeymaren did it again. When two wide blue eyes were finally looking back at her, she pulled her hand away. Honeymaren smiled and emitted a small laugh.
"I'm sorry to wake you," she whispered. "Gerda came by to let us know dinner would be served at seven."
Elsa suddenly sprang forward onto her rear. "She came in here? What did you say? What did she do?"
Her panicked stricken face had Honeymaren giggling more. "Relax… she stood outside the door. No one knows you're in here with me..."
Elsa turned, hiding her blush. Only when her complexion cooled did she turn back. "I-I'm sorry… I didn't mean to offend to you, of course..."
"Of course…" Honeymaren smirked.
"No, no, don't misunderstand me- I don't understand myself! I'd just meant… I don't want to explain to anyone what's been going on between us right now… The timing is…" Her voice trailed off in embarrassment.
Shrugging, Honeymaren folded her legs and straightened her back. "Elsa, it's okay… I get it. Now is not the time… It's hard to digest anything under these circumstances. That's probably why your sister didn't tell you her big news either."
Elsa grumbled as she curled onto her side. "I wish she would… then I could scold her for acting so carelessly right now."
Honeymaren came to face her. She hid her mane of chocolate curls behind her ear. "It's been one crisis after another here in Arendelle, just as it has in the forest… I imagine she's acting as cautiously as she can. You know, given the circumstances."
Elsa slowly smiled at her. "I know… I do understand… but with our... situation- I don't want you to think I'm embarrassed or ashamed to be here with you. I'm happy here…" her cheeks darkened. "-but I don't think I have the right to feel happy right now; not until everything has settled down."
Her lips pursed and pulled to the side. "I don't know that I believe that... " Honeymaren hummed. "You feel happiness when it happens, though I can understand wanting to wait to share that feeling with other people."
Tentatively, Elsa reached out. Her fingers skimmed the length of Honeymaren's arm and she frowned. "Did the mages do this to you?"
Honeymaren looked down and sheepishly shook her head. "I, uh- no. I fell off the bed…"
She was silent for a moment until a short burst of laughter escaped her throat. "I would have loved to see that!"
"Tough luck…" Honeymaren fought. "Someone was too busy sleeping…"
She shivered as Elsa's fingers continued down to her hip. With wide eyes she watched her tug at the loose fabric along her waist.
"May I see what happened to you during the fight?"
Honeymaren nodded in understanding. She rolled onto her back and pulled up her shirt to rest below her chest. Elsa's hand froze midair. She blushed and slowly sat up.
"Your skin is beautiful…" she found herself saying.
"Really?" Honeymaren laughed. "I've always preferred yours to mine. It sparkles in the sun like fresh snow."
Elsa ignored the compliment. She bit down on her lip as she extended her hand over Honeymaren's waist. Her fingers stilled against tan ribs and shielded the rapidly darkening bruise. Goosebumps broke out beneath her touch. Honeymaren's eyes instantly widened. Magic slithered across her skin, coating the purple surface in a thin layer of ice.
"Strange…" Elsa mused. She pulled her hand back to her lap.
Honeymaren released her shirt before propping up on her elbows. "What's strange?"
"My magic didn't work on you before… and now it has."
"That's because," Honeymaren sat up and took Elsa's hands. "-you used your powers with the intent to help me."
Elsa's eyes lowered. "Is that so?" she smirked. "It appears you know everything now, then."
Honeymaren shrugged. "I know enough."
She raised their conjoined hands and brushed Elsa's cheek with her knuckles. Elsa's brows slightly lifted. Honeymaren smiled as she did it again.
"Tell me something," she asked, and Elsa nodded. "Why are you afraid of me right now?"
In an instant, Elsa was glaring. "I really don't like this new ability of yours." Yet instead of pulling away, she tightened her fingers around Honeymaren's and lowered them back to her lap. "Can't you tell, though?"
She shook her head. "With you… it's different. I sense your emotion, but not the reasoning behind them… Ahtohallan was different for me. Everything felt heightened there. It was like being constantly bombarded with feelings and thoughts… It was all so...overwhelming..."
Elsa chewed on her inner-cheek. Her attention briefly-flattered. "I suppose I'm afraid for many reasons, then…"
"Will you tell me?"
Her expression tightened. "I will… if you promise me there will be no judgement."
Honeymaren rolled her eyes. "When have I ever judged you before, and why would I start now?"
Elsa was silent for a moment. She casually played with Honeymaren's fingers as she thought. Finally when she spoke, Elsa brought their eyes together.
"I'm afraid because... I like this… I enjoy being with you, like this- I suppose I realized that the night you got hurt down by the river. However, I also know I can hurt you…. And more so now, and differently, than I could before. That's not an easy thought for me to wrap my head around…
"And I find I'm afraid to lose you, or leave you, even… if anything went wrong… I'm also afraid of being with you, and not being with you. I'm afraid for my sister as well, and my family. There's a lot of fear right now, but many other emotions, too. I suppose I'm really just as overwhelmed as you are..."
Honeymaren stifled a breath before nodding. "I understand, Elsa… I do."
"You do?" her eyes lowered.
She pulled her hand away, not missing how Elsa shivered at the loss of contact. "Of course I do… it's not everyday you get what you've always dreamed of… Unfortunately when I did, it was on the cusp of a time where I could lose it all just as quickly as it happened. It's as if the universe thought to teach me a lesson for responding to my desires..."
"What do you mean?" Elsa's eyebrows touched at the center of her face. "What dreams?"
Honeymaren's fingers returned to hers. "You, Elsa… You know this… I've dreamed of being able to freely love you."
Blue eyes briefly widened before they softened and turned up at their ends. Elsa's blush gave way to a small grin. "I do love you, too," she breathed.
Honeymaren's smile could have blocked out the sun. Her hand pulled from Elsa's and she caressed her cheek. "May I please kiss you again?"
Elsa's breathing hitched, but she nodded anyway.
Drawing up onto one arm, Honeymaren felt the ice on her side shift. She leaned down, her hand holding Elsa in place. Her gaze was tentative as she slowly lowered toward her. Honeymaren's lips softly brushed against hers and her heart lurched when she felt Elsa leaning back into their kiss.
It was difficult to hide the smile she wore as the two walked down to the dining hall together. Honeymaren was dressed in clothes from storage while her tunic and pants were cleaned by the staff. To Elsa, she looked almost ethereal in the red satin robe and brown undercoat. Her hair was down, too. Elsa had seen it that way before, but the combination of dark curls against red fabric had her feeling giddy.
Elsa pulled her stoic expression back into place as they entered the hall. Both women were surprised to find the table occupied by two more guests. Mattias had arrived and sat at Kristoff's right. Hildr joined them as well, sitting himself beside Ryder. Silently, and while avoiding Anna's suspicious gaze, Honeymaren and Elsa took the two seats that had been left for them. They were sandwiched together between Anna and Ryder, leaving their arms brushing as they sat.
"What took you both so long?" Anna sang.
Elsa remained passive. "Honeymaren's clothes required cleaning. I apologize for the delay."
Her blue eyes rolled in disbelief. Anna sat forward and placed her chin on the top of her hands. "No worries... Honeymaren, you look beautiful. Doesn't she, Elsa?" Anna did not wait for her sister's reply. "-and I hope neither of you mind me inviting more guests this evening?"
"Of course not," Elsa smiled. "I'm happy to see everyone doing well."
She took a sip from her water glass and her eyes scanned the party. Everyone appeared tense; drained, even. Cleyo had already exhausted the greatest leaders in both Arendelle and Northuldra. It seemed her years of spying on them had worked in her benefit.
"I've already filled Hildr and General Mattias in on your updates." Anna shortly explained. "I figured that would speed things up a bit so we could focus on moving forward."
"Her majesty tells me that while King Francis Westleton has made his presence known here, he acts merely as a pawn for a mage by the name of Cleyo?" Mattias' eyes lowered to her.
Elsa nodded. "I'm afraid so… while Russave's and Whestleton's forces are of a concern in regards to their numbers; it's Cleyo who should be Arendelle's primary focus."
Any following response was cut short by Gerda's entrance. She and the royal servants dolled out their meal and poured the wine. Elsa could see Honeymaren fidget beside her. She was visibly uncomfortable with being catered to. Unfortunately, that was life in a castle, and for the time being' she would have to get used to it.
Over food, their conversations continued. Hildr prompted them with the knowledge that the red dust found by where the Earth Giants had stirred- contained the similar properties to the amulet he'd received from Ryder.
"Its natural energy is much higher than what we have available to us in this part of the world. It's made of a mixture of both cinnabar, and a gemstone called tourmaline. Its purpose is to deflect, as well as heighten, the other energy fields it comes in contact with, and sometimes to the point of chaos; as we've seen with the spirits."
"The amulets disrupt Elsa's powers, too." Honeymaren explained as she turned to Hildr.
"Yes, I imagine tourmaline channels the energy behind her emotions and acts like a shield between her and the life force of Ahtohallan." He hummed idly in thought.
"That's how Cleyo overpowered you?" Ryder frowned, his attention turning between Elsa and Honeymaren.
"Initially, yes, but then they had Kristoff and that changed the situation for us as well." Lips pursing, Elsa offered Kristoff a small shrug.
"So, let me get this straight…" Anna leaned against her elbow with the water glass suspended in her hand. "Cleyo is our greatest threat, but even our best weapon doesn't stand a chance against her?"
Elsa playfully lowered her eyes. "Did you just refer to me as a military instrument?"
"It's a figure of speech!" Anna defended, and Elsa laughed.
"Anna's right, though…. How do we keep Cleyo from burning Arendelle to the ground, and Westleton from invading- if Elsa can't even defend us?" Kristoff directed them back on topic.
"I stand by dealing with Cleyo first," Elsa continued. "Francis won't make his move until prompted. He's Cleyo's buffer; her distraction, really. And besides, Arendelle isn't her main target anyway."
Anna frowned, shaking her head. "What do you mean? I thought Cleyo wanted to rule Arendelle with Francis as her king? If Arendelle's not her target, what is?"
Honeymaren and Elsa exchanged a brief glance. Drawing her shoulders back, Elsa sighed. "You are."
The table collectively stiffened. All eyes snapped to Elsa.
"What?" Kristoff demanded.
"Technically... Cleyo doesn't want revenge against Arendelle… She wants to seek justice from our family-"
"You see, it's more likely she wants to strip Elsa of everything human, just as she feels was done to her in the past." Honeymaren added.
Both Kristoff and Anna blinked. He tried to catch her gaze, but Anna wouldn't have it.
"We double our efforts." Mattias assured. "I can have the entire guard set up as your first line of defense."
Anna immediately shook her head. "That would leave the rest of Arendelle open to Westleton's siege… I still think Elsa and I should meet with Francis before we start lining out men into battle formation."
Elsa cringed. She turned to Anna sheepishly. "If I could…" she tried.
Anna smiled at her sister's hesitation. "Go right ahead. Speak freely…"
Nodding in thanks, Elsa released a deep breath. "Westleton is not going to respond to Arendelle's negotiations. He is banking on Cleyo removing our family from power so he can easily take over."
"-and we're back to Cleyo again…" Ryder rolled his eyes and shoveled down a fork-full of food.
"I have to say it…" Elsa's attention was held at her plate. Her hands balled into fists.
"Let's hear it," Kristoff prompted. "We have to work with what we've got."
Elsa was silent for a moment. Finally when she looked up, her expression had hardened. "I will face Cleyo."
"Wait, what?"
"Excuse me?"
"Are you crazy?"
"Absolutely not!"
Everyone's responses echoed all at once.
Elsa shook her head to silence them.
"It's the same plan we had for Westleton, but with Cleyo instead. I'll send Gale to ask her to meet with me on her own on neutral ground."
"-but Elsa…" Honeymaren cut in. "She doesn't want to talk! You know this! She only wants revenge!"
"I agree with Honeymaren. There's no room for negotiation with Cleyo. She wants us dead and we'd kinda like to live…" Anna continued.
Elsa stifled a groan, massaging her fingers into her temple. "Any negotiation we come to with Westleton cannot be trusted until Cleyo is dealt with either!"
"So, both these conversations are pointless…"
The table silenced as they thought. Food pushed around plates and wine goblets emptied. At the end of their meal, they were exactly where they had started.
"I have one last suggestion…" Elsa dejectedly whispered.
Sensing her shift in emotions, Honeymaren's hand clamped down onto Elsa's knee. Her eyes widened and she forced herself quickly away from the table.
"No!" she growled. Her arms crossed and she stood. "I knew it! I knew you would argue something like this the whole time!"
Elsa leveled her with a stern glare. "Don't begin to assume anything," she said before turning back to the table.
"Cleyo is enticed by the challenge of besting me. It's half the fun for her," she continued. "I'm suggesting...a final battle between her and I and-"
"Elsa, what? No!" Anna yelled.
Elsa raised her hand. "It's merely a prompt- a jest. It'll provoke her to meet with me one on one. From there, I'll work with reason instead. If I can talk her down-"
"-and if that doesn't work?" Kristoff's brow arched.
"-then we take the battle to her," she finished.
Mattias shook his head. "I'm sorry, but what of the fjord? If I've relocated our army to take on Cleyo, then we are really leaving Arendelle at risk."
"Anna and Kristoff will send word to Westleton that negotiations are now off the table. They had their chance, but now it's time to move forward."
Ryder frowned. He felt his sister shift at his back as he turned his attention to Elsa. "Won't that only provoke them further?"
Lips twitching, Elsa smirked. "Luckily, I can make their attempt to siege Arendelle more difficult." She wiggled her fingers at him. "If we safehaven Arendelle temporarily behind ice, I can take on Cleyo and bring her down to size before we even have to worry about Francis or Russave."
Anna sighed. Her eyes met Elsa's. "I don't like this… I don't like it one bit..."
"I don't either," she agreed. "-but I'm afraid we're out of other options."
"-but to face her alone…" Hildr interjected. "Knowing she has the mechanics to take on your powers... she very well may render you defenseless before a negotiation can even begin."
Elsa bit her lip and her brow furrowed. "She comes alone or the plan is off. I have the spirits as my eyes, but as far as our powers go… we're an even match."
"And by that you mean, you don't plan to take me with you either?" Honeymaren fought and returned to stand at Elsa's side.
Her eyes were dark. Anger laced through her skin, showing itself in deep wrinkled lines across her forehead. Elsa found herself turning away.
"Alone means alone. I must follow the same terms I put in place for her-"
"-but I can help you!" Honeymaren's fist came down on the table between them as she sat.
"Honeymaren, enough…" Elsa leveled at a whisper.
"You two, take it easy!" Anna reigned.
"Yeah, Mare," Ryder boasted. "Besides, how are you going to help? Cleyo has flame powers and her anger is a little out of control… better step back and let the spirits take on this one."
Shaking her head, Elsa sought Honeymaren's gaze. She was silently begging her to keep quiet; daring her even, to divulge their shared secret.
"Why don't we sleep on it?" Anna suggested, seeing the hostilities growing between the two women.
Her attention slowly pulled from Honeymaren's, expression strict until the moment she looked at Anna. "-because Northuldra is less than a full day's ride from here. Cleyo could be anywhere at this point. We want to make our stance known before she can get the jump on us." Elsa explained to her.
"I agree with Elsa." Mattias nodded. "It's best to iron out the plan now before Cleyo makes plans to attack Arendelle regardless."
"I hate to be that guy…" Kristoff's eyes fluttered to his hands. "-but what if she attacks anyway?"
Elsa and Anna turned to each other. Their eyes met and they shared a small nod.
"If Cleyo attacks Arendelle…. Then Arendelle fights back." It was Anna who responded. "We fight until we can't anymore."
Reaching across the table, Elsa took her sister's hand. "I'm with you."
"- and I with you… We do this together."
Cheers,
-M.